Oil-well delivery apparatus



r. J'. MILLER 0.1L AWELL, DELIVERY. ABPARATUS Filed Aaron 24, 1927 March .18, 1930.

Patented Mar.

Y 'rHEoDopE l:L MILLER',

PATENT OFFICE or EL CAMPO, TEXAS 01E-WELL DELIVERY APPARATUS Application med March 24, 1927.seria1 No. 178,041.'

`This invention relates to oil' well'delivery 4 apparatus, and particularly to means for unseahng a sealed' portion of the well lying below the well casing ast-he pipe string is lowered to tap the oil strata at progressively 4deeper levels, and also for maintaining they bore o'f the well below the pipe screen free of detritus in order to prevent clogging of' the well and to ensure an unrestricted ow .of the oil to the surface.

vThe main object of the invention is to pro- ,vide means for the purpose described which is simple ofconstr'uction, reliable and eicient in actlon, economical in construction and use, and which may be operated for unsealing purposes orto clear the bore of obstructions to oil flowby simply rotating the pipe string.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reamer-like device for thepurpose described which is adapted to be attached to the pipe string in advance of the screen and by means of which a mud sealing wall may be progressivel cut away or detritus loosened, said devicel eing channeled to facilitate the discharge of all deposits` liable to interfere with the free flow of oil. v 1

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of' parts, hereinafter lfully described and\ claimed,freference being had to the accom- A panying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section through an oil well showing the-application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the reamer. 'i

Figure 3 is a view in elevation thereof.

In the practical embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, 1 designates a well bore, 2 the well casing, 3 a pipe string extending downward through the well casing and through =which the oil from the oil=bear ing strata 'lows tothe surface, and 4 a screen or strainer arranged at the lower end of the pipe string. This screen or strainer may be a perforated portion of the pipe, or formed independently of the pipe and secured thereto, or of any of the constructions in common use or any suitable construction designed for the purpose. 5 is a sealing wall formed, as

usual, of mud or other material, employedy in the well bore below the casing to prevnt the walls of the bore from breaking down and closing the bore, and also for sea ing the oil bearing strata below the point which is tapped for the extraction of oil.

In carrying my invention into practice I' provide acutting tool or reamer adapted for `attachment to the lower end of the pipe string to operate in advance of the screenl, whereby portions of the wall' 5 may be progressively removed for unsealing actions, and whereby also the bore below the well casing may be freed from detritus. This tool comprises a body 6 of circular cross-section, and of a' -diameter corresponding substantially to thel external diameter of the pipe string 3 and internal diameter of the sealin wall 5. This vbody is formed with a tapered ower end phor-y tion 7 and an externally threaded upper end v portion 8, the latter being adapted for engagement with internal threads on-the pipe screen 4, whereby the tool 6 is attached as a fixture to the'pipe string.' Formed in the circular body portion of the tool is an annular series of vertical recesses 9, parallel with the axis of the tool, in each of which isv arranged a cutter 10. The cutters 10 are pivotally mounted at their lower ends, as indicated at 11, at the lower ends of the recesses so as to swing outwardly and inwardly, and springs Y 12,"seated in the upper ends of the recesses, are provided to bear upon the upper ends of the cutters and to force said upper ends of the cutters outwardly. The cutters are rovided with outer longitudinal cutting e ges 13 and terminate at their upper end in angu-V larly bent or obliquely arranged portions 14 presenting at their points of intersection with the edges 13 contact shoulders 14. The springs 12 are arranged to'bear against thev inner faces of the portions 14 so as to dis-' pose the cutting edges 13, when the cutters-v are free for projection outward, whereby the cuttin edges diverge in an upward or rearward 'rection and project, in the advancing cutting motion of the cutters','to a progressively increasing degree beyond the surface of the body `6 for a gradual cutting action and so as to cut with a draw-cut on a tapering line. Each cutteris provided with a clearance bore or passage l of uniform diameter throughout its portions 6 and 7 oft an enlarged diameter at its upper end, in the cutter portion 8, 4through which bore any liquid or substance lyino inthe well bore below it may pass upwardly int'o thepipestring and through the latter to the surface.

In use, the tool is attached to the perforated or strainer end of the pipe string and is lowered therewith down through the well casing until it passes beyond thelower'end of the casing', in which operation the shoulders 14 the pipe string in the proper direction, the

" cutter or reamer will'be actuated to cause the edges 14 of the blades to cut away a desired portion of the upper end of the wall 5 clear of the line of the-'well bore for the pur ose of unsealing 'a corresponding portion othe oil bearing strata. In this cutting action the edges 13, by reason of the inclined position of the cutters 10, form a tapered cutter which .serve as beveled retracting surfaces which,

the cutters rom injury 'while the reamer is.

effects a gradual cutting away of the wall as the reamer advances, whereby a ready and easy cutting action is effected. The strainer 4 is so related to the cutter or reamer that the.

strainer may be'brought' to lie opposite the unsealed portion of the bore, `tor the iow of oil thereinto and up through the pipe string, while the cutter rests vinactively within a partially cut away portion of the wall 5 beneath it, so that only that portion of the well bore which is tapped will be exposed and put into communication with the pipe string, while the portion of the bore below it and bounded by the wall 5 will be stoppered or closed by the reamer or cutting tool. From time to time, as occasionrequires, the pi e string may be rotatedfor cuttin away t e f wall 5 to expose new portions of t eoil beardesired, and the sealed ing strata; thus enabling portions ot'4 the 'sealed part of the well to be unsealed when ortion kept constantly closed. The threads upon the strainer and reamer may be either right hand or left hand threads as desired', so thatfby turning the pipe string in the proper direction the reamer may be rotated for a cutting ac- ,y

l tion, while by turning'the pipe string in the opposite direction it may be unscrewed from the reamer for independent removal from the Vwell casing. When a Vpipe -string is thus removed, the tool may be .allowed to remainr as a plug or stopper, as will be readily under stood, which may be rotated for unsealing or upon engagement with the lower end of the pipe tubing, will force the cutters inwardly to a retracted position, the contact surfaces 14 thereupon riding in contact with the well tubing andy rotecting the cutting edges of being withdrawn'. The tool may also be employed for the purpose of freeing and .discharging detritus or accumulations of any kind in the well and for effecting its discharge in an 4obvious manner so as to remove `any obstructions'to the downward advance Y of the pipe string in; service use.

My invention thus provides a character described which may be employed ina ready and efficient manner for the purposes set forth, andwhich may be manufactured and sold at a low cost and operated in a convenient manner. Should it be desired to remove the tool, after removal of the well casing, it will be understood that this may be done 1n the manner above-described.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In oil delivery means', for oil wells, an oil delivery pipe, an elongated lug at the intake end of the pipe, said plug eing coupled to the pipe for connection and disconnection by relative rotation between the pipe and p ug, said pipe having an annular series of ongitudinal recesses in its periphery, cutters fpivotally mounted at their lower ends in said recesses and having angularly arranged upf per ends relatively conver in and upward direction, the bodies of said cutters being provided with longitudinal cutting edges disposed by said inclined ends to incline at a downward and upward angle to the. plane of the plug, and springs in said recesses and bearing against the cutters at the device of` the in an inward iuncture of their inclined ends and inclined for riding contact, with the well wall for a '.clering. asians 911th@ ine-insertion af.. .s pipe yielding retraction of the cutters in the operation of withdrawing the-plug with the delivery-pipe from the well.- f

2. In an oil delivery means for oil wells, an oil delivery pipe, an elongated plug at the intake end of said pipe,jsaid plunr being coupled to the pi e for connection and disconnection by relatlve rotation between the pipe and plug and having a'. longitudinally tapered lower end and an annular series of longitudi nal recessesin its outer periphery above said tapradfead', .satten plvvtlly mouais@ at their lower ends'in said recesses and having angularly arranged uiper ends relatively con# f verging in an inwar ,and upward `directin' A the bodies of said cutters bein provide 3 with longitudinal Icutting edges isposedvby said inclined ends to incline at a downward v v and upward angle to the plane ofthe plug, and springs in said recesses and bearing l against the cutters at the uncture oftheir inclined-ends and inclined ody portions, to

yieldinglg project the upper inclined ends of the cutters outwardly-beyond the recesses,A` said spring-pressed upper linclined ends of the cutters being adapted for riding contact with the well wall for a yieldin retraction of the cutters in the operation o withdrawing theuplug with the delivery pipe from the we In testimlon` whereof I aflxmy signature.

l HEODORE J. MILLER...

alsl i 

